Accra, Jan.20, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday said good governance, democracy and accountability should be the way forward for developing countries to develop. He denied speculations that government policies were being influenced by some institutions saying, " government decides on its own path for development and is not being pushed around by anyone". "We are encouraged and strengthened by friendly countries to resolve in the path we have chosen to build our country".

President Kufuor made the observation when Dr Per Stig Moller, Danish Foreign Affairs Minister, on a four-day visit to Ghana, paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu. President Kufuor said government policies were geared towards establishing a solid foundation for socio-economic development to change the lives of Ghanaians positively hence the government's slogan of " Positive Change". He commended Denmark for her tremendous assistance to Ghana, adding, " Denmark has been very supportive to Ghana and the assistance had no strings or conditions attached to them". He said Denmark's support had been in the areas of road reconstruction especially the Konongo-Kumasi section of the main Accra-Kumasi trunk road.
Other assistance, President Kufuor mentioned, were reforms in the Judiciary and the private sector where Ghanaian entrepreneurs were being encouraged to work with their counterparts in Denmark in the transfer of know-how and other business skills to understand the psychology of world market trends.
Dr Moller said the relationship between Ghana and Denmark began many years ago but had improved tremendously over the past few years. He said it was worth assisting Ghana because of her promotion of democratic rule, economic and private sector development. Dr Moller commended President Kufuor, who is also the ECOWAS Chairman for the restoration of peace and stability within most of the conflict areas in the West African sub-Region. He said it was difficult for worn-torn countries to develop, but ECOWAS under the Chairmanship of President Kufuor had managed to institute conflict resolution mechanisms in most of the countries thereby establishing peace towards development of the countries.